Rumpus 6

Kelty makes decent 6 person capacity tents that aren't outrageously expensive. I have a Rumpus 6. Things to look for that will help fit your needs...a clip suspension system, for easy setup. Aluminum poles for strength. Available foot print, or a rectangular floor where you can get a cheap tarp and modify it to be a foot print. A side opening duffel type storage bag is convenient for when it's time to pack up.

Kelty Rumpus, 4 or 6 person models check off most of your needs and desires. Huge porch area for the doggo. Partially orange in color. Easy to setup even single handed( i have experience at this). Fits your budget pretty close, 4 person is under $300, 6 person size a little over if it's not on sale. Strong aluminum alloy poles.

We have the Kelty Rumpus 6 for two of us, and it’s perfect for my 6’3” spouse.

We have the kelty rumpus 6, and for the most part it’s been great. Several very wet camping trips and it started leaking at the back zipper. We’ve since seam sealed it. However, we are on a roadtrip currently, and have had near constant rain until this morning. Probably 5 days and nights without more than a couple hours of rain. Tent started leaking in three places last night. I think it’s honestly just because there was absolutely no relief from the rain. The places it leaked from were all from the rainfly, one by the vent in the back, and then two from the ceiling near the tent poles. This morning we finally had sun and a lot of wind, and everything has now dried out except for the footprint and corner of the tent (due to a low spot at site). Upon inspection, there was nothing that seemed to be damaged or failed seams, just too much water too long and too hard. We will check it all out at home, and seam seal again if needed. That said, we’ve camped maybe two months of total time with this tent, and it’s been an excellent purchase.

I came here to say the kelty rumpus! It was incredibly easy to set up and it rained when we camped and we stayed very dry!

it fits my kelty 6 comfortably with space on the size. it was very tight with my kelty 4

I like the Walmart brand Ozark Trail. We have had a smaller tent from them for quite a while (it does leak now but we set up a tarp over it). Our nicer Kelty tent tore and the zipper broke. They’ll fix them for you but I lose the receipt :(  Since you’re new I’d go on the less expensive side first. 

I've had my Kelty for about 12 years now and it has never failed to perform to my highest expectations. I highly recommend them.

Where do you camp, what is the weather like? Generally Kelty or Alps Mountaineerimg tents are the budget tents that are a step up from Coleman. Two layer (separate body and rainfly) are most forgiving. Full rainfly (covers the whole body) is best. More mesh in the body for hot and humid. Less mesh for colder climates.

Yeah the marketing is so bad. There are 3 season tents that are better suited for colder climates but they aren't advertised like that. So weird. In the south, I recommend Kelty tents a lot because their 2 layer tents have almost-full mesh bodies. I notice that people in the northern US swear by Alps Mountaineering tents... their bodies happen to have a lot less mesh in the body. They're like 3.5 season tents, lol (but they'd be bad in the south).